Ralph Kiner

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Kiner made his major league debut on April 16, 1946, with the Pittsburgh Pirates, finishing the season with 23 home runs. After the season, the Pirates convinced future Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg not to retire, and Greenberg gave Kiner hours of instruction. In 1947, Kiner led the major leagues with 51 home runs while striking out fewer than 100 times. Many of his homers were hit into a shortened left-field porch at Forbes Field originally built for Greenberg and known as "Greenberg Gardens"; the porch was retained for Kiner and redubbed "Kiner's Korner." In 1949, Kiner topped his 1947 total with 127 RBIs and 54 home runs, falling just two short of Hack Wilson's then-National League record. It was the highest National League total from 1931 to 1997. Kiner was the first National League player with two 50-plus home run seasons. His 50-HR seasons with the Pirates in 1947 and 1949 were the first in MLB history to happen on teams that finished with a losing record. From 1947 to 1951, Kiner topped 40 home runs and 100 RBIs each season. His string of seasons leading the league in home runs reached seven in 1952, when he hit 37. He was selected to the All-Star Game in six straight seasons, 1948 to 1953. The famous quote "Home run hitters drive Cadillacs and singles hitters drive Fords" was actually coined by teammate Fritz Ostermueller, not Kiner himself. On June 4, 1953, Kiner was traded to the Chicago Cubs in a ten-player deal, largely due to salary disputes with Pirates general manager Branch Rickey, who reportedly told Kiner, "We finished last with you, we can finish last without you." Kiner finished his career with the Cleveland Indians in 1955, batting .243 in 113 games with eighteen home runs. A back injury forced him to retire at age 32, finishing with 369 home runs, 1,015 RBIs, and a .279 lifetime batting average. He hit better than .300 three times, with a career best .313 with the Pirates in 1947.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Forbes Field is thick with the scent of popcorn and damp earth as the evening sun casts long shadows across the diamond. Ralph Kiner steps into the batter's box, his uniform crisp against the twilight. He takes a deep breath, adjusting his grip on the bat, feeling the weight of the city behind him. As the pitcher winds up, time seems to slow; the crack of the bat echoes like thunder, sending the ball soaring high over the left-field fence. The roar that follows is deafening, a collective release of joy from thousands of fans who know they are witnessing greatness.

Reader's Guide

Ralph Kiner's career with the Pittsburgh Pirates began in 1946 and lasted through 1953. As a player, he led the National League in home runs for seven straight seasons (1946–1952), a feat never previously accomplished in MLB and not matched since. He hit 51 home runs in 1947 and 54 in 1949, becoming the first National League player with two 50-plus home run seasons. His 54 home runs in 1949 were the highest total in the major leagues from 1939 to 1960. Kiner was selected to the All-Star Game in six straight seasons (1948–1953). The Pirates retired his uniform number 4 on September 19, 1987. He was inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame in 2022 as part of the inaugural class. He was the oldest active announcer in MLB during his final season in 2013.

Did You Know?

• Kiner led the National League in home runs for seven consecutive seasons from 1947 through 1952, a feat never previously accomplished in Major League Baseball and not matched since.
• The famous quote 'Home run hitters drive Cadillacs and singles hitters drive Fords' was actually coined by teammate Fritz Ostermueller, not Kiner himself.
• Kiner was the first National League player with two 50-plus home run seasons (1947 and 1949).
• Kiner served as a U.S. Navy pilot during World War II, flying PBM Mariner flying boats on submarine patrols from NAS Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii, accumulating 1,200 flying hours